Carrot Fest 2026: 50,000 Visitors & Counting
Two days of free vendor market, live music, family fun, and Ontario’s agricultural heritage
Dates
Aug 14–15
Cost
FREE
Where
Bradford, ON
Family
✓ Kids Zone
For 30 years, Carrot Fest has brought the community together to celebrate the Holland Marsh region’s role as Canada’s heart of the vegetable industry. Two days of live entertainment across four stages, hundreds of vendors, free admission, family programming, and professional wrestling make this one of Ontario’s largest agricultural festivals.
🎵 4 live stages
🛍 Hundreds of vendors
👨👩👧👦 Kids Zone
🍺 Beer garden
💡 Since 1995, Carrot Fest has become Bradford’s flagship event, drawing an estimated 50,000 participants and generating over $1 million for the local economy — a true harvest celebration.
✨ Why This Festival Matters
Carrot Fest isn’t just a street party — it’s a celebration of the Holland Marsh region that produces over 70% of Canada’s carrots. For three decades, this festival has grown from a merchant market into one of Ontario’s largest agricultural festivals, drawing nearly 50,000 visitors and generating over $1 million in local economic impact.
What started as a way to bring the post-1991 amalgamated communities together has become Bradford’s flagship event. The 2026 edition spans downtown Holland Street and the Community Centre, with four live stages, hundreds of vendors showcasing local artisans, food purveyors, and craftspeople, plus family programming that runs all day Saturday.
Whether you’re exploring the vendor market, catching live music and busker performances, cheering on the wrestling matches, or letting kids loose in the Kids Zone, Carrot Fest delivers the authentic harvest celebration feel — free admission, plenty of parking, shuttle buses on both days, and the kind of community energy that only a long-running local event can build.
🎭 Event Schedule by Day
Live music runs across four stages: York Energy Stage (Simcoe Road), TD Stage (Courthouse Parking Lot), Bingham Band Stand (Holland & Bingham), and the Busker Pitch. Professional wrestling, vendor market hours, and entertainment vary by day.
Friday, August 14 | 4:00 PM–10:00 PM
Vendor Market: 4:00–10:00 PM (400+ vendors)
Kids Zone: 4:00–9:00 PM (Reptillia Exhibit, games, activities)
Bradford Lions Beer Garden: 5:00–10:00 PM
Back Alley Cruisers: 6:00–10:00 PM
Live Entertainment:
York Energy Stage: Pat James & the Whole Truth (4:00–6:30 PM), Duvet (7:00–10:00 PM)
TD Stage: Swift Experience, Chicks Experience, Chris Stapleton Tribute
Bingham Band Stand: Genevieve Cyr, Kyle Wauchope
Busker Pitch: Scarlett Black, Twisted Ones (rotating)
York Energy Stage: Pat James & the Whole Truth (4:00–6:30 PM), Duvet (7:00–10:00 PM)
TD Stage: Swift Experience, Chicks Experience, Chris Stapleton Tribute
Bingham Band Stand: Genevieve Cyr, Kyle Wauchope
Busker Pitch: Scarlett Black, Twisted Ones (rotating)
Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Vendor Market: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (extended hours)
Kids Zone: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (Inflatables, toddler tent, Squash Ontario demos)
Bradford Lions Beer Garden: 12:00 PM–10:00 PM
365 Pro Wrestling (Community Centre): Free noon show | 7:00 PM ticketed show ($20, available at door or online)
Live Entertainment:
York Energy Stage (10:00 AM–10:00 PM): Steve Goodtime, Scarlett Black, Lazo Finn, Pupper Tamer, Soul of Motown, The Heavy Sugar, Green’d Eh
TD Stage (10:00 AM–6:15 PM): Marky Monday, Elite, Sonshine & Broccoli, Juggling Chef, Flaming Carrot Finale
Bingham Band Stand (12:00 PM–5:30 PM): Murray Drive, Seu Jorge Moran, Klinsvin
Busker Pitch (10:00 AM–6:00 PM): Trulee Odd, Hercinia Arts, Steve Goodtime, Scarlett Black, Puppet Tamer (rotating)
York Energy Stage (10:00 AM–10:00 PM): Steve Goodtime, Scarlett Black, Lazo Finn, Pupper Tamer, Soul of Motown, The Heavy Sugar, Green’d Eh
TD Stage (10:00 AM–6:15 PM): Marky Monday, Elite, Sonshine & Broccoli, Juggling Chef, Flaming Carrot Finale
Bingham Band Stand (12:00 PM–5:30 PM): Murray Drive, Seu Jorge Moran, Klinsvin
Busker Pitch (10:00 AM–6:00 PM): Trulee Odd, Hercinia Arts, Steve Goodtime, Scarlett Black, Puppet Tamer (rotating)
📋 Essentials at a Glance
Vendors & Activities
400+ vendors showcasing local artisans, food vendors, gifts, and crafts. Separate food trucks and merchant booths throughout downtown.
Wrestling
365 Pro Wrestling at the Community Centre: Free noon show Saturday, and 7:00 PM ticketed show ($20, available at door or via Square).
Shuttle Buses
Free shuttle bus Friday 5:00–8:00 PM and Saturday 12:00–6:00 PM between BWG Leisure Centre/Library to Community Centre. Free ARGO transit all day Saturday.
Road Closures
Holland Street (Holland Court to Colborne), Simcoe Road (Holland to Mary), and Barrie Street closed during the event. Detour routes are marked; see official site for details.
Festival Sponsors
Proudly presented by Toromont Remanufacturing. TD, York Energy, Global Pet Foods, Holland Marsh Growers Association, and many local businesses support the event.
Best For
Families · local shopping · agricultural heritage · vendor discovery · live entertainment · wrestling fans · day-trippers within 1–2 hours of the GTA
🚗 Getting There & Parking
Bradford is about 45 minutes north of Toronto via Highway 400 to Highway 88 (which becomes Holland Street). Street parking downtown fills up on festival weekends, but there are several free municipal lots and shuttle bus service to the main venues.
Free Parking Lots: 29 Drury Street, 24 John Street West, Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre (125 Simcoe Road), BWG Library & Cultural Centre (425 Holland Street West), and Bradford GO Station (Bridge Street).
Free Shuttle Bus: Friday, August 14 from 5:00–8:00 PM and Saturday, August 15 from 12:00–6:00 PM. Service runs between BWG Leisure Centre/BWG Library & Cultural Centre parking lot and the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre (125 Simcoe Road).
Free ARGO Transit: Saturday, August 15 only — complimentary transit service throughout Bradford West Gwillimbury makes it even easier to get from parking to the festival venues.
📍 Get Directions to Downtown Bradford
💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing
🎵 Four stages, four distinct vibes. Split your time between York Energy Stage (main lineup, main acts), TD Stage (tributes and entertainment), Bingham Band Stand (acoustic performances), and the Busker Pitch (street performers). Mix and match to match your taste.
💵 Bring cash and cards. Most vendors accept both, but some smaller artisans may prefer cash. ATMs are available, but the lines can get long.
🛍 Plan your vendor market route. With 400+ vendors spread across downtown Holland Street and side streets, grab a mental map or take photos of vendor maps at the info booth to make the most of your time.
🌞 Friday is quieter, Saturday is packed. If you prefer a lower-key atmosphere, arrive Friday evening. Saturday draws the bigger crowds and opens earlier, so plan accordingly.
👨👩👧👦 Kids Zone runs all day Saturday. Inflatable games, a toddler tent, and Squash Ontario demos keep younger kids entertained. The zone closes by 6:00 PM, so plan early-afternoon visits if your little ones are involved.
☀️ Bring water and sunscreen. Two days in the sun and on your feet means hydration matters. Food vendors and the beer garden sell beverages, but a refillable bottle is your best bet.
Keep Carrot Fest Growing 🥕
Carrot Fest is run by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Recreation & Culture Department with volunteer support and community sponsorships. The event’s growth to 50,000 annual visitors depends on that partnership. If you love the festival, consider supporting a vendor, sponsoring next year’s event, or volunteering.
Volunteer Opportunities →
❓ Common Questions
Details may change — always confirm on the official Carrot Fest website before heading out.
Location
Get DirectionsDowntown Bradford and Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre, Holland Street and 125 Simcoe Road, Bradford, ON, L3Z 2A8
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